This book displays 37 “Friday Focus” memos, each of which provides insight into a specific aspect of teaching and learning for all to reflect on throughout the year. Friday Focus memos address the principal’s responsibility to shape the school culture, provide intellectual stimulation, and communicate effectively. The memos are organized around the school year and provide educators with a wide variety of insights into how to improve our schools. They are typically between 500–1,000 words in length and can be sent out via e-mail to each staff member – not only to the teachers but also secretaries, custodians, and cafeteria workers. A vehicle for school improvement, the Friday Focus memos provide a step-by-step plan for staff members and principals to work together as change agents for school improvement.

Use Friday Focus memos to motivate and engage your staff every week, and help create a school culture focused on the growth of students and teachers. Easy to understand and implement, Friday Focus memos offer an effective and efficient way to improve student learning, staff development, and school culture from within. Written by educational consultant and former principal of two award-winning schools, Jeffrey Zoul, these memos focus on topics such as active learning, high expectations, gratitude, test preparation, and more. Zoul provides 37 teaching and learning memos, one for each week of the school year, for principals and other administrators to reproduce and circulate among their staff. Zoul prefaces each memo with stories from his experiences as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal in the K-12 levels. You can also write your own memos, with guidance on possible topics and teacher takeaways.

Each of the chapters in this unique book wa written expressly for each major stakeholder group in your school, tailored to their varied needs and experiences. Each chapter contains a set of inter-related practical activities so that each group focuses on the same goals and supports the others. No other book on school improvement includes a chapter written exclusively for elementary students, printed in large type, illustrated with cartoons, and accompanied by step-by-step advice for educators on how to use this material.

This book provides the busiest leaders with an accessible set of tools that can immediately be deployed to positively impact their school. Authors Ronald Williamson and Barbara R. Blackburn explore the COMPASS model—Culture; Ownership and Shared Vision; Managing Data; Professional Development; Advocacy; Shared Accountability; and Structures to Sustain Success—as an overall framework for school improvement. Chapters include in-depth discussions of easy-to-implement, useful strategies for improvement and address the most common concerns facing today’s school leaders. Supplemented with templates, charts, and other adaptable tools for ongoing, practical use, 7 Strategies for Improving Your School is your key guide to school improvement.

Like the best-selling first edition, this book is filled with strategies to motivate your staff and maintain a high level of energy at your school. This guide will help all educators approach work every day in an enthusiastic, focused, and positive state of mind. This book will help you: -Motivate your faculty with the Friday Focus--a staff memo that works! -Understand the power of praise and how to best utilize it every day -Make sure staff meetings, teacher evaluation, and daily activities raise the energy level in your school -Maximize the holidays, open house nights, and other special events the make your staff feel special

This book describes the practices of principals who develop and maintain purposeful learning communities. It applies and extends nine of the leadership responsibilities identified in research conducted by Marzano, Waters, and McNulty in School Leadership That Works.

This book takes a practical look at how standards in education can be raised. It cuts through jargon and shows how ideas and intentions can be translated into effective action that will help a school.

Expert strategies for personalized, 21st Century professional learning! Empower teachers to take ownership of their own professional learning. Recognized EdTech leaders Murray and Zoul guide you step-by-step through the process. Confidently learn to build a values-driven school culture, personalized professional roadmaps, and a collaboration-minded staff. You’ll find concrete examples, leadership profiles, and a wealth of resources to help administrators and teachers: Take ownership of their professional growth Design meaningful learning opportunities Collaborate and learn using technology, blogs, and social media Model and support professional learning for others Transform teacher learning and see your student achievement soar!

In this innovative series Education Write Now, ten of education’s most inspiring thought-leaders meet for a three-day retreat to think and write collaboratively, and then bring you the top takeaways you need right now to improve your school or classroom. This third volume, edited by Jeffrey Zoul and Sanée Bell, focuses on overcoming common problems in your classroom or school. There are many challenges we face as educators, no matter what kind of district or building we work in. The authors provide practical, insightful solutions and inspiring stories to motivate you on your journey, so you can get past the roadblocks and focus on what matters most—bringing all students to success. Topics include: Sustaining Joy (Lynell Powell) Breaking Free from Isolation (Rachelle Dene Poth) Broadening Our Definition of Literacy (Jennifer Casa-Todd) Making Libraries Relevant (Josh Stumpenhorst) Developing Perseverance in Kids (David Geurin) Promoting Positive Student Behavior (Jeffrey Zoul) Connecting with Students of Color (Sanée Bell) Elevating Instructional Supervision (Ross Cooper) Shifting Professional Learning (Katie Martin) Maintaining Staff Morale (Danny Steele) The royalties generated from this book will support the Will to Live Foundation, a nonprofit foundation working to prevent teen suicide.

The best educators never stop learning about their students or their craft. In this second volume of the Routledge Great Educators Series, ten of education’s most inspiring thought-leaders come together to bring you their top suggestions for improving your students’ learning in the classroom and your own professional learning as an educator. You’ll gain fresh insights on learning how to... · Influence others and make a greater impact as a leader. (Todd Whitaker) · “Unlearn" traditional practices that no longer serve our students. (Jeffrey Zoul) · Be vulnerable and willing to learn from and with colleagues. (Jimmy Casas) · Master your emotional intelligence to improve people skills. (Sanée Bell) · Shift the focus from grading to standards-based learning. (Garnet Hillman) · Create student-centered learning environments with flexible seating. (Kayla Dornfeld) · Balance the role of technology in your life and plug in more intentionally. (Jessica Cabeen) · Focus on the non-negotiables for success with the hardest-to-reach kids. (Brian Mendler) · Apply a cross-curricular, design-thinking approach to your curriculum. (Erin Klein) · Connect with colleagues and students for true collaboration. (Derek McCoy) The book’s practical strategies and stories will inspire you on your journey to make a difference in students’ lives.